* Figures are 2007 scores (out of 10) of states and union territories on their overall performance based on eight parameter: law & order, agriculture, primary education, primary health, infrastructure, consumer market, investment environment, and budget & prosperity.
Assam is the FASTEST MOVER
Fastest mover is the state where the rate of improvement on overall performance between 2003 and 2006 was greater than the rate of improvement between 1991 and 2003

Best big state, best small state and the best state for investment. Punjab, Puducherry and Gujarat emerge leaders in these categories and set an example before the laggards.

Call it the great Indian paradox. The best among all the 30 states and five Union territories, Punjab, is the slowest growing state in the country, only a shade better than Daman and Diu. If it still ranks on the top it is thanks to the legacy of the past. On the other hand, a fourth ranker among small states till last year, Puducherry has outshone Goa and Delhi to occupy the top slot in that category. Its performance on social sector parameters has been as impressive as in the sunshine sectors like technology and hardware. And on investment front, Gujarat, with a stable environment and resolute leadership has once again emerged the investors' favourite destination with projects worth Rs 75,000 crore committed in 2006-07. The supremacy of these states, despite low scores on many parameters, only shows how long the road is for others who have to travel a million miles before they can rest.

PUDUCHERRY
Small State Big Strides
Despite the propensity for freebies the state has done well, thanks to the rush of big tag investments.

The state seeks status of nation's hardware capital and is wooing investments in IT, biotech and agro-processing.

Rs 61,064 is the per capita income of the people in the state.

* The state tops spending in healthcare in 2006-07.
* It is the only state to provide breakfast, umbrellas and raincoats to school students.

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GUJARAT
Favourite Destination
Under Modi, infrastructure and investment have got a fillip and the state has seen all-round development

Today, industry has to face power staggering for not more than 30 days in a year. T&D losses have been cut drastically.

Rs 75,000cr worth investment committed in the state in 2006-2007

* At 99 per cent, the state has the best road connectivity.
* Maximum number of special economic zones (47) are to be set up in Gujarat

Gujarat will probably emerge as the most prosperous state in the next 8-10 years.

Punjab is still sitting on its laurels from the Green Revolution. It needs to industrialize in order to keep its ranking.

Mizoram is India's "Coolest" state...best literacy and most laidback people.

Kerala is the ideal welfare state....very high equality and literacy....rivals scandinavian countries on that count.

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True, Gujarat is simply scorching away competition, Modi on that front is working wonders for Gujarat..!

But from an infrastructural POV, there is no matching Delhi. Simply the sheer amount of money going in Delhi on road infrastructure projects(roads, highways, urban transportation projects,) is unrivalled in the entire country. All credit to Commonwealth Games 2010.

And no official ranking, but Bangalore, considering its supposed to be an IT hub and all that, the star of the south, it has PATHETIC infrastructure, PATHETIC roads, PATHETIC mass trasit systems(actually that was in jest, it has no such thing whatsoever). I was mighty dissapointed in my visit to Bangalore, bloody single lanes over the entire city...

Mumbai is beginning to lose business because the port infrastructure in Gujarat is far better than Mumbai, which is more or less a colonial relic.
Gujarati highways rival the Chinese ones and they produce surplus electricity...

Mumbai is beginning to lose business because the port infrastructure in Gujarat is far better than Mumbai, which is more or less a colonial relic.
Gujarati highways rival the Chinese ones and they produce surplus electricity...

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Mumbai is fading. If it doesnt do anything fast, all that will remain in Mumbai is Bollywood and the Sensex. They have to put war like efforts in their infrastructure otherwise it will be history. With politicians like Raj Thackeray being regressive than progressive, i feel Mumbai is doomed.

In Delhi OTOH, Shiela Dikshit is going to be elected the third time in a row because and ONLY because of the development she has brought in the city. From the Delhi Metro, a pilot project to the High Capacity Bus System(BRT), Highways and Superways(a 16 lane highway throughout,comming up b/w Dwarka and Gurgaon connecting DIAL). Currently the highways only become 16 laned at the toll point, this will be around 24 laned at the toll point and 16 laned otherwise-the highest in the country.

Apart from that the Delhi Gurgaon expressway, 8 laned throughout and 16 laned at the toll point, has been opened recently, the total length of the highway is 27.something km's.

Delhi Metro is going to cover literally ALL of Delhi and NCR region by 2010.

Infact by 2010, Delhi will have the highest number of flyovers and underpasses combined in Asia barring Tokyo.

Mumbai is fading. If it doesnt do anything fast, all that will remain in Mumbai is Bollywood and the Sensex. They have to put war like efforts in their infrastructure otherwise it will be history. With politicians like Raj Thackeray being regressive than progressive, i feel Mumbai is doomed.

In Delhi OTOH, Shiela Dikshit is going to be elected the third time in a row because and ONLY because of the development she has brought in the city. From the Delhi Metro, a pilot project to the High Capacity Bus System(BRT), Highways and Superways(a 16 lane highway throughout,comming up b/w Dwarka and Gurgaon connecting DIAL). Currently the highways only become 16 laned at the toll point, this will be around 24 laned at the toll point and 16 laned otherwise-the highest in the country.

Apart from that the Delhi Gurgaon expressway, 8 laned throughout and 16 laned at the toll point, has been opened recently, the total length of the highway is 27.something km's.

Delhi Metro is going to cover literally ALL of Delhi and NCR region by 2010.

Infact by 2010, Delhi will have the highest number of flyovers and underpasses combined in Asia barring Tokyo.

Delhi is an electrcity deficit state though.

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Mumbai isn't "doomed" or anything, just that it needs to do some urgent catching up.

Its infrastructure is still among the best in the country and improving.

Navi Mumbai is coming up in a big way, and its got several high-profile projects lined up.

Maharashtra needs someone like Chandrababu Naidu in order to give it a fillip.

Chandrababu Naidu completely forgot the agricultural sector. He got crazy with IT and infrastructure. Maharashtra apart from some cities is a major agricultural region, dont forget that. Unless we rachet up our per hectare yield, we would be sorry in the future. Agricultural growth is just managing around 2-3&#37;, which is pitiable compared to our industrial growth of 11-12%.